The Multimodal Freight Management Office of the Democratic Republic of Congo (OGEFREM) recently secured the title deeds for a 70-hectare site set to host a dry port in Kalamba-Mbuji. Located in Kasaï-Central, Kalamba-Mbuji is a village on the border between the DRC and Angola.  The deeds were officially received on February 10.

"We've come to collect a pivotal document. It's the deed of our concession, putting an end to all speculation", said Jean Mukuluboy Kelemwanga, director of general services at Ogefrem. Securing the document, according to Kelemwanga, is a major step forward in the dry project project.

The Kalamba-Mbuji dry port aims to enhance trade between the DRC and Angola by connecting Kasaï-Central to Angolan seaports, notably Lobito. However, several regulatory steps remain, including feasibility studies, obtaining a building permit, securing financing, and selecting a service provider similar to the process for the Kasumbalesa dry port in Haut-Katanga.

Concurrently, a project is underway to upgrade the 230 km Kalamba-Mbuji-Kananga road, which will open up central DRC to southern Africa. Financed under the Sino-Congolese program with a budget of $300 million, the work resumed in July 2024 and is scheduled to last 24 months.

In November 2022, the African Development Bank approved $165 million to asphalt the Mbuji-Mayi-Kananga-Kalamba-Mbuji road in the DRC and the Dundo-Shikolondo road in Angola. In 2023, trade between the DRC and Angola totaled over $130 million, with Angola exporting goods worth $127 million and the DRC exporting just $3.16 million, according to OEC World data.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho